New Bedford man arraigned in Superior Court in baby's death

FALL RIVER — A New Bedford man pleaded not guilty Tuesday at his arraignment in Superior Court to charges he beat and killed his ex-girlfriend's 9-month-old daughter.

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By CURT BROWN

southcoasttoday.com

By CURT BROWN

Posted May. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By CURT BROWN
Posted May. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

FALL RIVER — A New Bedford man pleaded not guilty Tuesday at his arraignment in Superior Court to charges he beat and killed his ex-girlfriend's 9-month-old daughter.

Ethen Harrison, 21, who is charged with a single count of murder, was ordered held without bail by Judge Renee P. Dupuis in the Jan. 24 death of Ariel Eluziario. The case was continued until June 11 for a pre-trial conference.

Harrison, who is being held at a penal facility outside Bristol County, stood quietly in court, a court officer at his side, and answered "not guilty" when the clerk read the murder charge against him.

The baby's mother, Amanda Eluziario, and the child's biological father, Tom Racine, attended the arraignment but left the courthouse without speaking with the media.

The defendant shared an apartment in New Bedford's North End with his former girlfriend and her two children — Ariel and her 5-year-old brother.

Prosecutor Stephen Nadeau told the court that the District Attorney's Office has not received the full autopsy results but expects them soon.

Defense attorney Robert L. Jubinville Jr., of Milton, said he has questions about Harrison's psychological background and his experience in caring for children.

"He certainly seemed to have had a good relationship with the two infants," he said. "It's obviously a tragic case and one of the important things will be the autopsy results."

The attorney said he intends to request funds from the court to hire a pathologist to review the autopsy results as well as to hire a private investigator.

Harrison was arraigned in February in New Bedford District Court after prosecutors brought a murder charge against him and was arraigned again Tuesday following his indictment last month by a Bristol County grand jury.